Paid $50 for the rust free tailgate a few weekends ago. The seller also threw in a new replacement passenger side floor pan, a front driveshaft, and a bunch of miscellaneous trim pieces that I didn't even know I needed or was missing!

The K5 handled the 2 hour round trip without incident. However, the temperature was creeping up on me on the drive home. That has prompted a full cooling system check over. Since a new water pump is only $30, that's getting tossed on. I'll be cleaning the radiator and putting everything back together this weekend.

This afternoon, I took another drive to Rochester for some more Craigslist finds. $35 for a good TBI fuel tank with pump & sending unit. And $35 for a never installed, 20 year old Bestop swing arm spare tire carrier.

The tire carrier is identical to the one that I have on the truck now, but its new and not bent!

The fuel tank is what I believe to be the last link in the TBI conversion I am undertaking in the spring! Things are coming together!

 

Congrats on the finds! i have only just started to dabble with 'the list' and I have found it quite addictive...
Have any plans to get any of that stuff on? (other than cooling systems) or are you still stock piling for one big push?

 

I am debating on doing some of the sheetmetal work over the winter, but once the top comes off, it is garage ridden for awhile... Plus, my wife and I are saving up for our vacation to Grand Caymen in January. These deals so far have been too good to pass up so far. The sheetmetal for the floors and rockers is going to be a bit of $$ though.

The plan for the spring is to do the TBI, A/C, wiring harness, and doors swap from my donor 'burb. Provided I can get the parts for the cross over steering setup by then, I'll do that at the same time. That'll be in prep for a 4" suspension lift using 52" springs up front (they'll either be the springs from the back of the 'burb or from the back of the '74 Jimmy I'm going to pick up) and a shackle flip in the rear.

 

Sounds like fun. One day I aspire to weld competently weld *run a bead at least...* and I believe that you will find the itch to get in there and do a little over the winter
Your patience at building up the needed parts and setting goals is commendable. i would be half *** slapping stuff on as soon as I got it. I can't wait to see this unveiled.

 

Sounds like you've been finding some good deals! Will that Jimmy be able to provide some of that more expensive sheet metal like for the floors?

 

The body on the Jimmy is SHOT! I am buying it for the frame and drivetrain primarily. There are some misc brackets, fasteners, & trim that will be kept and some other stuff that I'll likely sell after I'm done, but other than that, the body will be scrapped. As it stands right now, I don't think I'll even need a torch to take it apart! It is rusted up real bad.

The Jimmy is a L6 engine with SM465/NP205 combo. D44 front and 12-bolt rear. It is a Sierra trim level with all stainless trim plates inside that are still in great shape. I am going to try to salvage the top which has some damage at the back but otherwise looks fairly good. The dash has a tach, but is pretty busted up. I am going to try to salvage that as well.

I do not have the Jimmy in my possession yet, but it is not going anywhere ATM.

And I already have the itch to get it in the garage. The biggest problem is I really enjoy driving the truck. Once the top comes off, that really ends... Well, unless I want to dress like an Eskimo and drive around topless during the winter! LMAO

 

Ok I must have misse something lol...are there pics of this Jimmy? I know its not in your possession yet, but did you happen to get any pics?
I took a quick look back through the thread but didn't see anything...

 

I think I have some on my cell phone. It is currently surrounded by weeds taller than the truck and a few trees. It'll take a chainsaw and a flat bed to get it to my place.

*EDIT* Just looked and I only have pictures of the SFI label in the glove box. No pictures of the truck. Its beat though!

 

Right on!! i hear that , i got a full size, and feel you completely! mine is 89' that has been tweaked a little, with a rebuilt top end and vortec heads (350 type), TBI spacer, 670 cfm TBI and magnaflow exhaust. wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING! with the 37"x13"x15 shoes and the 6" suspension lift, i would dare to compare to any small blazer off road. even if it's faster, i'll stick to the full size regardless. LOL...no offense, just what i dig,...keep it goin man, love seeing what you've done so far. has helped my train of thought in building, thanks!
tom

 

subscribed